Artificial Roofing Shingle

ABSTRACT

An artificial roofing shingle composed of plastic and preferably having a rearward attachment flange, preferably having a flat and non-textured upper surface, and a forward body member, the forward body member having a textured upper surface. The shingle further has a front wall and opposing lateral walls, the bottom of the shingle being open such that each component of the shingle is thin in transverse cross-section. The forward body member is configured to visually resemble a shingle composed of a natural material such that when a plurality of shingles are attached to a roof in overlapping manner the roof presents the same visual appearance as that of a natural shingle roof. Preferably the textured upper surface of the forward body member angles upward from the non-textured upper surface of the rearward attachment flange.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/750,003, filed Jan. 8, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to the field of roofing shingles, and more particularly to artificial roofing shingles manufactured from plastic to provide the visual appearance of natural wood, terra cotta or slate shingles or tiles.

Plastic shingles molded to look like roofing shingles formed of natural materials are known, but the products produced to date suffer several drawbacks. The plastic shingles are manufactured as solid-body members or of heavier embodiments, which can lead to curling or warping after the shingles are exposed to the elements. The known plastic shingles are also expensive to produce, such that the plastic shingles are often more expensive to purchase than natural shingles.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plastic roofing shingle having the visual appearance of a natural roofing shingle or tile, wherein the problems inherent in plastic shingles produced to date are overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an artificial roofing shingle or tile composed of plastic and preferably comprising a rearward attachment flange preferably having a flat and non-textured upper surface, and a forward body member, the body member having a textured upper surface. The shingle or tile further comprises a front wall and opposing lateral walls, the bottom of the shingle or tile being open such that each component of the shingle or tile is thin and such that the shingle or tile is generally-U-shaped in transverse cross-section with an open interior presented on the underside. The forward body member is configured to visually resemble a shingle made of a natural material, such as shake, clay or slate shingles or tiles, such that when a plurality of shingles or tiles are attached to a roof in offset, overlapping manner the roof presents the same visual appearance as that of the natural roofing materials of which it imitates. Preferably the textured upper surface of the forward body member angles upward from the non-textured upper surface of the rearward attachment flange, such that the front wall is significantly higher than the height of the rearward attachment flange. Alternatively, the artificial roofing shingle or tile may comprise a body member having a textured upper surface, a front wall and opposing lateral walls, the bottom of the shingle or tile being open such that each component of the shingle or tile is thin and such that the shingle or tile is generally U-shaped in transverse cross-section with an open interior being presented on the underside.

Alternatively presented, the invention is an artificial roofing shingle composed of plastic and comprising a forward body member having a thin in cross-section, planar, textured upper surface, said forward body member further comprising a front wall depending from said upper surface and opposing lateral walls depending from said upper surface, the underside of the shingle being open such that an open interior is presented on the underside of the shingle; wherein said front wall and said lateral walls are thin in cross-section; wherein said upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness; wherein said lateral walls are joined to said front wall; wherein said upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness; wherein no reinforcing members are present in said open interior; and/or wherein said upper surface is shaped to resemble a natural roofing shingle chosen from the group of natural roofing shingles consisting of wood, shake, slate, tile and clay. In addition, the shingle may further comprise a thin in cross-section rearward attachment flange having a flat and non-textured upper surface, said rearward attachment flange and said forward body member joined at a transverse interior junction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing a natural wood presentation.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the shingle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shingle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the underside of the shingle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the shingle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the shingle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the shingle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing a clay tile presentation.

FIG. 9 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing a slate presentation.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a plurality of shingles as would be arranged on a roof.

FIG. 11 is a side view of another alternative embodiment of the invention showing a shingle with no rearward attachment flange.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail. The term “shingle” as used herein shall be taken to include, shingles, tiles or other discrete members used to create the exterior of a roof and prevent ingress of wind, rain or the like into the interior of the structure.

In certain embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 through 10, the invention is an artificial roofing shingle 10 composed of plastic and comprising a rearward attachment flange or member 11, the attachment flange 11 preferably having a flat and non-textured upper surface 12, and a forward body member 13, the forward body member 13 having a textured upper surface 14. The shingle 10 further comprises a front wall 15 and opposing lateral walls 16 depending from the upper surface 14 of the forward body member 13, the bottom or underside of the shingle 10 being open such that an empty interior space 18 is defined and presented on the underside and such that each component of the shingle 10 is thin-walled, preferably having a wall thickness of less than one quarter inch. The forward body member 13 of the shingle 10 is generally U-shaped in transverse cross-section, the lateral walls 16 defining relatively short legs for the “U” in relation to the broader mid-segment defined by the textured upper surface 14. No transverse reinforcing ribs or other structural features are required in the empty interior space of the underside of the shingle 10. Thus, the upper surfaces 12 and 14 of the shingle 10 are sheet-like members, and the walls 15 and 16 which depend from the upper surfaces 12 and 14 are likewise very thin. With this construction, the total amount of plastic material contained in a shingle 10 is minimized, thereby reducing cost. Because the front wall 15 and lateral walls 16 depend from the upper surfaces 12 and 13 at substantially right angles and are joined, the walls 15 and 16 act as reinforcing members to resist curling and warping without adding significant material to the shingle 10.

The shingles 10 are structured such that the textured upper surface 14 of the forward body member 13 meets the non-textured upper surface 12 of the rearward attachment flange 11 at a transverse mid-line or interior junction 17. Preferably the interior junction 17 is located halfway on the shingle 10, but the interior junction 17 may be shifted forward or rearward. Preferably the textured upper surface 14 of the forward body member 13 angles upward at the interior junction 17 from the non-textured upper surface 12 of the rearward attachment flange 11. The forward body member 13 is textured, shaped and configured to visually resemble the upper surface and front wall of a natural shingle, such as wood, terra cotta, clay, shake, slate, etc. For example, FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate an embodiment configured to resemble a natural wood or shake shingle. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment resembling a clay shingle, and FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment configured to resemble a slate shingle.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the shingle 20 comprises a textured, generally planar, upper surface 24 adjoined to depending lateral walls 26 and front wall 25, with at least the forward portion of the upper surface 24 being textured, the upper surface 24 extending to the rear edge 21, such that no interior junction is presented in this embodiment of the invention. The overall configuration of the upper surface 24, lateral walls 26 and front wall 25 are as described above with reference to equivalent elements of the alternate embodiment, such that for example the shingle is generally U-shaped in transverse cross-section and the walls 25 and 26 are thin in cross-section.

To attach the shingle 10, one or more mechanical fasteners, such as nails, are driven into the rearward attachment flange 11 to secure the shingle 10 to the roof underlay material. The shingles 10 are laid out in a horizontal row in abutting manner, and then the next horizontal row of shingles 10 is attached in offset manner to the roof above the first horizontal row with a significant amount of the textured upper surface 12 of the lower horizontal row remaining exposed. Preferably the forward portion of the forward body member 13 of the higher horizontal row covers a small amount of the rearward portion of the forward body member 13 of the lower horizontal row, thereby defining an overlap or headlap. In this manner any mechanical fasteners driven into the forward portion of the rearward attachment flange 11 of the higher horizontal row will pass through the rear portion of the rearward attachment flange 11 of the lower horizontal row. For example, for shingles 10 having a twenty inch length, a forward body member 13 of ten inches in length and a rearward attachment flange 11 of ten inches in length, the shingle rows may be overlapped such that at least two inches of the textured upper surface 14 of the lower row is exposed. Preferably, the shingles 10 are attached in a manner that allows for three layers of shingles 10 to be present at any point.

The shingles 10 may be provided in multiple widths and thicknesses, such that horizontal rows may be formed with shingles 10 of differing widths and thicknesses to better replicate the natural shingles. Additionally, individual shingles 10 of the upper horizontal row may be disposed at higher and lower points on the roof such that the front walls 15 of adjoining shingles are not aligned. In this manner, when a plurality of shingles 10 are attached to a roof in overlapping manner the roof presents the same visual appearance as that of a natural roof. An additional advantage of the shingles 10 as described is that slightly sizes of shingles 10 may be nested or stacked within each other for shipping and storage, thereby reducing the volume occupied by multiple shingles 10. Alternatively, the lateral walls 16 and possibly the front walls 15 may be angled slightly outward on each shingle 10 to allow for nested stacking.

It is understood that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements and structures set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention and its embodiments is to be as set forth in the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. An artificial roofing shingle composed of plastic and comprising a thin in cross-section rearward attachment flange having a flat and non-textured upper surface, and a forward body member having a thin in cross-section textured upper surface, said rearward attachment flange and said forward body member joined at a transverse interior junction, said forward body member further comprising a front wall depending from said textured upper surface and opposing lateral walls depending from said textured upper surface, the underside of the shingle being open such that an open interior is presented on the underside of the shingle.
 2. The shingle of claim 1, wherein said front wall and said lateral walls are thin in cross-section.
 3. The shingle of claim 2, wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness.
 4. The shingle of claim 2, wherein said lateral walls are joined to said front wall.
 5. The shingle of claim 4, wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness.
 5. The shingle of claim 1, wherein no reinforcing members are present in said open interior.
 6. The shingle of claim 1, wherein said textured upper surface is shaped to resemble a natural roofing shingle chosen from the group of natural roofing shingles consisting of wood, shake, slate, tile and clay.
 7. An artificial roofing shingle composed of plastic and comprising a forward body member having a thin in cross-section, planar, textured upper surface, said forward body member further comprising a front wall depending from said upper surface and opposing lateral walls depending from said upper surface, the underside of the shingle being open such that an open interior is presented on the underside of the shingle.
 8. The shingle of claim 7, wherein said front wall and said lateral walls are thin in cross-section.
 9. The shingle of claim 8, wherein said upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness.
 10. The shingle of claim 8, wherein said lateral walls are joined to said front wall.
 11. The shingle of claim 10, wherein said upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness.
 12. The shingle of claim 7, wherein no reinforcing members are present in said open interior.
 13. The shingle of claim 7, wherein said upper surface is shaped to resemble a natural roofing shingle chosen from the group of natural roofing shingles consisting of wood, shake, slate, tile and clay.
 14. The shingle of claim 7, further comprising a thin in cross-section rearward attachment flange having a flat and non-textured upper surface, said rearward attachment flange and said forward body member joined at a transverse interior junction.
 15. The shingle of claim 14, wherein said front wall and said lateral walls are thin in cross-section.
 16. The shingle of claim 15, wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness.
 17. The shingle of claim 15, wherein said lateral walls are joined to said front wall.
 18. The shingle of claim 17, wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness.
 19. The shingle of claim 14, wherein no reinforcing members are present in said open interior.
 20. The shingle of claim 14, wherein said upper surface is shaped to resemble a natural roofing shingle chosen from the group of natural roofing shingles consisting of wood, shake, slate, tile and clay. 